title: Preoperative NT-proBNP levels: a reliable parameter to estimate postoperative atrial fibrillation in coronary artery bypass patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study was designed to evaluate whether the levels of preoperative and postoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are predictors of postoperative paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients who undergo coronary artery bypass surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 117 patients were prospectively evaluated for new-onset AF after coronary operation. Plasma NT-proBNP values in all patients were measured at five different time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AF occurred during the hospitalization period in 33 patients (28.2 %). Significantly higher NT-proBNP levels in the preoperative examination were recorded in patients who developed AF postoperatively compared with patients without postoperative AF (329.36 ± 82.93 vs. 230.67 ± 59.93 pg/ml, P < 0.05). Although we detected some higher values in the other group of patients with AF (at T1, T2, T3, T4), the difference was not statistically significant compared to the normal rhythm group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main finding of the current study is a positive correlation between high levels of preoperative NT-proBNP and the risk of new-onset AF after CABG surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Celal Bayar Univ, Manisa, Turkey. iskesen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iskesen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eserdag
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kurdal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerrahoglu
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Sirin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain